Thetownend.com

So we come up against a team who defends as poorly as we do.

About time we beat the Headington lot again but hopefully our players aren't as down as some as our fans.

I'm also hoping we go two up front and get at them from the off rather than starting with 1 up and probably chasing the game as we aren't good enough defensively to invite pressure.

Oxford 2-3 Swindon.

We can win. I am confident of that.

Get our heads right and it could be a very good game for us. If we don't, it's going to be horrible.

A sense of dread and foreboding has swept over me and seeing this thread appear

I'm confident we can win. Could be Wellens last game. 2 up front . COYR

Recent results suggest that an away win is unlikely

Why could it be Wellens last game🤔

don't worry, we won't sack him if we beat Oxford ;)

odds shift on becoming Salford manager...

I don't think he's going myself

Have they come down since Sunday as he keeps saying he's committed here😁

2/1 joint favourite

Wow he was 8/1 last time I looked on Sunday evening with Paul Cook a clear favourite

still 6/1 on PP and Betfair. 2/1 skyber

Cook very short 10/11 on same site

Cheers😁 I must admit he seems a little prickly in his interviews recently

massively.

but I thought he was back on form for the pre match the other day.

perhaps he'd just heard he got the salford job :)

Quite. Did you see the goal Gladwin scored against them? Ran from inside his own half, rode a number of half arsed attempted tackles and slotted home from outside the area with a shot the keeper should have saved.

They are the mirror image of us. Look good going forward, create a number of chances, spurn most of them, guaranteed defensive cock ups each game, and all backed up by a dodgy looking keeper.

8-8

A little more upbeat but he did make it clear he hasn't come here to be near the bottom of the league and no doubts not getting any players in has made him angry

Thinking of swinging by the Bermuda Triangle on Sat on way to Banbury v Bury FA Cup game (sorry tickets now sold out). A few scummers seem to be going to that match - a kind of Poxy by Proxy.
Will cheer during the game as Town's goals are announced during the commentary.

Let's hope they've cut the grass this time.

You’d think they’d steer well clear of Banbury after last time.

I go to Banbury United regularly, are you local?

Great Rollright.

This is like a Grindr conversation.

I haven't seen it but heard as you describe. They also lost centre half Atkinson to injury on Tuesday who has taken Rob Dickie's place in the team after his move to QPR. Right back Clare cannot defend by all accounts and left back Ruffels isn't fully fit. Really hope we just go at them rather than approaching the game in a cagey way.

Having watched the last 3 games I don't know how anyone could be optimistic!

40mph winds predicted for kick off dying down to 21mph in time for the second half. Perhaps winning the coin toss will be the most important element of the game!

Chippy

This is a public forum with Aunt Sally experts as spies. Please do not give clues to the opposition as to strengths and weaknesses, ol' boy.

Mobile wind tunnel advantage

Please. Just. Win.

3 points from the horseshoe would be nice.

A quick browse of their forum does make for hilarious reading. Little old Swindon really get under their skin don’t they.

Weird lot.

Lots of willy waving going on over there, let them do it, inbred twats.

It is just another game even if it is against them, for me its the crowd that makes derbies and without a crowd its no more important than any other game.

A willy waving competition between two chaps tending towards the chode, at the moment. We really need a win, not so much for the derby aspect but just because we've been pretty miserable these last few weeks.

A win would be great for morale and momentum. PV nailed it though - it's not a derby without fans really.

A pretty average rivalry for me, I’ll be glad when this game is done and dusted

Cant fucking stand that lot down the road - a lot closer for me as I live only mins from their shithole tasteless ground.
Its v hard living in their patch so would be nice to have something to shout about!

The fence end will be full  :)

Indeed. Hope the fence paint is dry Saturday.

Have they arranged a Bananagate reunion with Julian Alsopp as guest speaker?

The chap on their forum who claims we don’t get under their skin is now gloating they are beating us on thread pages 🤦🏻‍♂️

Why weren’t  there forums when we used to stuff them every game and, even better, when they got relegated out of the football league and floundered for 5(?) years.

I don’t think we have even scored at the Triangle.

Obika had a goal disallowed in one gane if that counts. :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

No I don’t think we have scored at the retail park but then again we haven’t played many games there. But that’s down to them being fucking terrible and irrelevant for many years.

I used to quite enjoy the rivalry, this game is only important in so far as stabilising  the start of the season for us though.  That could be because I've found this new sport, during Covid, to be an odd shadow of what it was before.  As usual, most teams I watch are losing at regular intervals, but I seem somewhat less annoyed by it.  Sport is a cruel mistress at the best of times (the odds are always stacked on not being the best, whoever you support, over time), right now the mistress has replaced the entire thing with a sort of simulation.

A situation many men, and their mistresses, will be familiar with.

A girl on the beach today dropped her bikini bottoms. I tried not to look but I’m sure it winked at me.

 ???

They probably use big font to be fair :)

You have to laugh that they bring out the intelligence battle between us, the intelligence in Oxford is imported  :D
Take the Uni out of the equation = oh dear.

I'm all for a bit of rivalry, but I don't think anybody is in a position to belittle another person's intelligence while simultaneously generalising about them because they just so happen to support a particular football team. (And it works both ways)

You'll be telling me a person's footballing allegiance doesn't instantly lead to them growing additional fingers and/or inserting those fingers into their own relatives next. Vile lies.

Yeah you’re talking nonsense there come on!!

It’s all very petty isn’t it, bring back Eric I say

They just spout bollocks. The same old bollocks.

I wouldn't go that far.

Wellens now 2/1 favourite for Salford no smoke without 🔥

I would love to be excited about this game, but I am with RobT, I struggle to get excited about anything football or Swindon Town in it's current guise of the game.. 

Unfortunately for me it's all a bit meh, and that includes this derby which is obviously not usually the case.

This virus just needs to fuck off.

Well put football is flat at the moment and really hard to watch

Yep. I'm in the middle of a full existential crisis as a football fan.

Not just football. All the distractions that we need more than ever right now - pubs, restaurants, gigs, films, theatres - have been taken away. It's just unrelentingly dull.

In fact, having my online football is one of the highlights of the week. But then, I wasn't going to the games before this all happened anyway, so the experience hasn't been so different for me as for the regulars.

Agree with every word of the above...

I get this. Swindon games are the one thing I look forward to more than anything, but it's still 10% of what it was.

Unrelentingly dull is the operative phrase for sure - Work at home, walk, gym, watch TV, repeat for 7 days a week (our lives are very simple with no kids).

Same...without the walk & Gym, I'm getting fat as fuck!

Me too...

I will watch the game on Saturday but with a bag of nerves.

No meet up...no pubs and beer...no piss taking...no seeing the 'football crowd', you only see at games...its all a bit shit and there is certainly no buzz...us on a bad run doesnt help.

Plainly, it's not the same as it was. However, we should perhaps savour what we have now because if it does all go 'tits up' things could be a lot worse.

P5 W0 D0 L5 F0 A8

I’ll be up for some frustrated arm chair thumping come kick off on Saturday.

Didn’t have much against Oxford until that day in early 2012.
Yeah, there were the eggs lobbed into the Cuckoo Lane end back in the good old days but they weren’t aimed directly at me per se.
Stood in that ticket queue for hours in what felt like sub-zero temperatures.
The guy next to me left after about an hour as his wife managed to get tickets over the phone.
The people who had slept over at the front hadn’t taken their litter away.
Jeremy Wray showed up complete with the ultra-smug expression. No doubt planning the implementation of an online ticketing system.
Could barely move & talk by the time I got into the ticket office but managed to get one of the last tickets and there were still loads of people still waiting.
Being an irrational football the whole experience was of course Oxford’s fault.

So, to the great day itself.
Got into Oxford early in the hope that the closure of pubs by decree was somehow fiction not fact.
Ended up drinking coffee somewhere on Cornmarket Street.
A dry away day. The trip was dry. Dry. No beer. Dry.

Got to the ground in good time and mingled with the yellow hordes.
Saw some “ladies” of a certain age abusing the away coaches as they arrived.
They may have been from the projects not that far away.
The only positives from that day were PDC pointing out the bigger picture on the pitch afterwards and winning the charabanc lottery by not ending up on the bus that invariably gets wrecked on the way back to station.

At least it was possible to enjoy a few beers before the inevitable defeat on the next visit in 2016.
Needless to say that buses were not supplied, but managed to get back to the station ok without encountering any groups of roving Phil Mitchell lookalikes.

Haven’t had a look on their horrible forum.
But no doubt some have found the time for a bit of the macho posturing that normally accompanies this fixture.
Anyway, everybody should know by now that even our water is harder than Oxford.

And for some music.
They’ve got Ride, we’ve got Billie Piper.
Here’s a bit of choral shoe gaze that probably won’t feature on the pre match playlist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxsl-i90bX4

They've gone from having four stands with some really nice houses close by to three stands and Blackbird Leys :clap:

I wouldn't be surprised if some away fans had ended up at The Templars Retail Park just a bit further north than the pink cow. Looks the same from above  ;D

They've never had four stands. They used to have about ten at the Cow Shed.

😁

Yeah, the stand to the left that held about 50. The minnow ground  :D

 :bye: :bye:

I thought it had character myself. Better than the bland thing they're in now.

They simply went from one extreme type of shitness, to another.

As for the game, I'm fully expecting a freak warm-up accident that leaves Curran as our only fit centre-back, then Wellens decides to bring himself on for the last 5, two-foots Tyler Smith putting him out for the season, scores an injury time own goal to give Oxford victory, before announcing his resignation on the pitch while holding a Salford scarf above his head.

Proper ground The Manor, shame there are many left like that.

My final memory of it was after Turbo bagged us the win, leaving along Cuckoo lane behind Football Phil with him constantly shouting  “Cuckoo, Cuckoo, Cuckoo”  :suicide:

Stormy weather forecast😁

They're both awful, in different ways.  Whoever gave planning permission for the current ground - 5 miles from the middle of town, and opposite the local sewerage treatment facility - was having a joke at their expense.  The County Ground isn't perfect, but it's in just the right place - right at the centre of the town it represents.

I won't go misty-eyed about the Manor Ground.  I couldn't stand it back then either.  But I'm pleased I was there when we gave it a proper send off with the Steve Robinson game in 2001.

they were not stands, just a load of sheds

I was being polite :toocool:

09.01.1992 for me. Steve White 1-0 in front of the home end. The pox fans posturing after the game  :) They like a good posture. Nice gentle walk back to the car. It's quite a small place Oxford, with a few other towns bolted onto it.

Exactly,  and I'm fucked if I'm going to contribute a tenner to the piss stains to watch it.     

I like the Adver's story that Stagecoach are running discounted in-disguise football special double-decker buses tomorrow.
Park 'em up & a top-deck seat for me please!

I sat in my car nodding my head when listening to the podcast - totally with you.

Good game that, I attended with a massive red wine hangover from our delayed Christmas work meal the night before with a work mate.

Lots of trouble down the alleyway at the back of the stand.

One underlying memory was of ex England midfielder (his only cap coming the season before) Andy Gray stood looking up at the scores from Div 1 come in on the scoreboard and putting his head in his hands when Spurs (his parent side) were 4-1 down at Man Utd.

Yeah, there were a few encounters down the alleyway. None for me and my mate though  ::)
Who was the fella that played for them who reminded me of Wade Dooley (headband)? Foster?

Yeah the fat lump Steve Foster.

Just beat these fuckers with or without fans.
I am already unbearable and make no exception tomorrow at 3pm a bag of nerves.
However a derby without the fans definitely has a less appealing effect on this game, the game I was looking forward to will come and go with less fuss this season for so many.

As for that shit hole of a ground always preferred the 6 sided Manor to that 3 sided monstrosity.
Definitely one of the worse in the FL taking into consideration location, design and atmosphere it’s woeful. Unbelievable missing my first Derby since 75.

Game might be off due to covid apparently, according to the yellows forum

Covid has tested positive for Oxford.

That makes me go right off Covid, thanks :D

Adver saying no prematch presser either

From Nixon

‘Story online soon. Bizarre one. Virtually whole of backroom staff at a League One club tested positive. Total staff and players missing six ... only two of them due to play ... so game should go on but a bit of unhappiness over that. Manager able to take charge but staff missing.’

They're getting their excuses in early then ;)

It sounds like typical Pox fan twattery TBh shit stirring for the sake of it.

We will soon see.

But, how on earth can 6, or 8, depending on club, test positive and then not need to pretty much put everyone else in isolation?  Rapid testing, the type probably used, is pretty poor at picking up early positive cases, so you'd need a few days and another test for everyone else to be clear?  Look at Rugby - a game likely to be called off at International level because players breached the bubble, let alone tested positive.

No pre match press conference....

With tomorrow possibly off, and Accrington likely to be off Tuesday too, the possible 10 day break for us can only be a good thing with regards to injuries.

That’s hoping no-one gets seriously ill with Covid, of course.

Agreed

is it us with the covid issue...

women have it

https://www.southamptonwomensfc.co.uk/news/club-statement-covid19-swindon-town-2579629.html

By first team, I’m assuming they meant the men’s.

So definitely us.

I assumed women's, but I don't know if they more than one team

Think our game tomorrow could be off .....

well, I guess that's semi official then.

(no that's not sarcastic).

 hope the squad members and staff are ok, including any you know ;)

They announced that last night on Twitter, not seen anything about the mens team, with the TEF's sponsorship track record I imagine its undoubtedly the case that DJ and Annie Martin will get it.

Not content with merely ending players' Town careers, we're now giving them deadly viruses. Down with the TEF.

Seriously though, it's a very odd state of affairs that there doesn't seem to be a policy at the league level about what level of infection leads to a game being cancelled. Making it up on a game by game basis seems ridiculously open to making everyone involved look daft.

Making it up as they go along looking daft...that sounds like a common path taken in dealing with Covid

Also mandatory testing

Absolutely this. Said before, I know this is something clubs might struggle to afford, but it's an obvious case for the PFA to step in and fund. It's directly in their members' interests

Game off!!

Official.

Well that's that then, lock the thread, nothing more to say and can't see anything controversial about this.

England v Barbarians egg chasing at the weekend also off, will be plenty of this through the winter I fear.

Disappointing. Just got back off holiday and was looking forward to it. Stress postponed for another day I suppose.

Already a "tHeY'vE bOTtLEd iT" comment on their forum. Such a dopey bunch of cunts.

It's us, according to BBC wilts.

Didn't Robinson already have a bit of a paddy over their Crewe game being postponed? This one might send him over the edge - could make for some interesting viewing.

We only played Northampton three days ago. Surely their squad needs to be isolating now and being tested?

I think they requested the Crewe game got postponed, the first time at least.

Not too disapointed this is off, we are on a shit run and hopefully will be playing better when its rearranged.

hope everyone is ok.

Wellens has it. Probably whilst attending his interview at Salford!

Give the custard forum more time to post a lot more shite

I'm dissapointed, but not dissapointed. If that makes sense.

Club not yet acknowleged it then ???

I'm sure they will in due course like..

Probably waiting for the presser up in Salford.  ;)

Maybe someones jumped the gun and its still being discussed.

Alternatively they're in no rush as they dont have to worry as nobody would be able to attend anyway.

Probably just the EFL dragging the confirmation email back.

Oiii you....

Mind games?

Nixon saying Game ON

This is going to get very messy very quickly

what the fuck!

I mean BBC wilts are no cowboys.

are the EFL playing hardball ?

Swindon. Manager been cleared after test. Four backroom staff will be missing. Only two players positive. EFL have told them to carry on and play the game.

Back on.
EFL enforced.

 :headhurts:

I was going to say hopefully our more important players aren't the ones affected but that seems in bad taste.

I mean we are all thinking it. Imagine its our only 2 midfield players? No wonder we probably wanted to get the game off. Tomorrow could be a complete shit show.

Well this will end well.

I am going back to my original point, how can 6 people be infected and the rest are not forced to isolate?  Even a negative quick test is not really sufficient.

Funny how Oxford fans are so desperate to get the game on. Thought they were so confident that they'd want to play against a full strength team?

So, for all we know, the entire squad could have it.

But the EFL are still saying play on?

Think they should be more worried about the very real prospect of our team passing it onto their team, I mean our defence can't hold on to a clean sheet, so it's unlikely they'll be able to hold on to a communicable virus.

Did you expect anything less from the EFL?

They are facing the very real prospect of this entire season going off the rails right now, too many cancellations in a truncated season is going to completely fuck it up.  I would not be at all surprised for L1 & 2 to cancel the entire thing again in a few weeks.

other games have been called off with less. I'd imagine efl wouldn't single us out in that way

On the other side, if we do get a result tomorrow it will be a good laugh.

I can see it now

How shit must you be?
We've all got COVID

Is it on or off?

Do you think  Baudry coughing next to his man is unsporting behaviour/bad taste.

What am I thinking.  Like he'll get that close

(cheapshot)

yes. schrodinger's football match

My working assumption for weeks now has been that the season will not be finished on time.  Or possibly not at all.  I just can't see it.

So we now go into it with an additional 2 players out on top of all the others and no backroom staff.

What could go wrong.

Any indication of who the two players who have it are?

Jonny had to turn back ....and he is really up for this game he is virtually back to full fitness now... someone is going to get a tonking shortly.... :eek:

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: that's really very good

great to hear.

let's hope it's tomorrow!

Any idea on who the 2 missing are?

So England v Barbarians is off in the rugby after players broke the ‘bubble’ but there are no official positive tests.

A football club has 6 positive tests but the game is forced to go ahead.

Makes complete sense.

So is it on or off as the Adver can't make its mind up

So if the infected backroom staff include our first team physio's, doesn't that endanger our players?

Sent from my XQ-AD51

I have it in good faith that it is "currently" ON...

Cheers

they'll get another physio in

Could that change?

if imagine the club are trying, but it's the EFL... who knows

Cheers! Did you say Johnny was sent back and won't be included

he said turn back. probably driving home

That's what I imagined but didn't know if he meant locally where he lives back home to Liverpool 

adver say 4 positives and 3 more self isolating.

players/staff split not known

Farcical. If anyone could beat the Government for confusion and mixed messages, then you can count on the EFL to step up.

Imagine if they teamed up :pint:

So that's at least 7 players out of action.

And the EFL are saying it has to be played? Surely not?

West Country ITN news sport saying it's off

They're not all players, that's the point.

It’s not all players.

yeah,  that's what I meant

you'd think the EFL have a criteria of N. I reckon 2 players mentioned by Nixon is probably a fair bet

Ah, misread it.

BBC Oxford News saying game might be off and that there may not be an announcement until tomorrow!

blimey. farce. are they waiting on more tests or something

Rocky Robin has symptoms...

He was the the bench...we are fucked.

Still on according to BBC Points West what a mes :eek:

Nixon:

Oxford vs Swindon - Health England now involved

Well that will clear things up then  ::)

Track and Trace!

Its now off....

Can see this being forced off by higher ups than the EFL.

What a farce

Will it be back on in an hour😁

ta

Your boy must be getting dizzy making these turns on the motorway.

 :) , I don't think so, I am led to believe the EFL were overruled by a Public Body and I can only assume they were very concerned about possible players re-transmitting the virus to Oxford players should they have the virus in the incubation period.

What a mess from the EFL.

Yes, he has just left "again" ....  ::)

Cheers for the update and surely the Accrington game will also be called off

Yes, I believe so, but no official comment yet....

You will have to do some chores around the house now!

Now off ffs another fuck up from the EFL.

It's one big mess Dukey but on a positive note at least it gives us time to get injured players back especially if Accrington is called off

On or off....who the fuck knows. Appears the EFL don’t.

So, to clarify:

:: Council confirms 4️⃣ members of 'playing and coaching staff' at @Official_STFC  have tested positive

:: A further 3️⃣ are self-isolating *as a precaution*

:: We don't know for sure who's tested positive

:: Saturday's game against @OUFCOfficial will go ahead

Adver reporter 3 mins ago...

It's changed again then 😁

Nixon saying it's off now. Fuck this.

On a positive Dion Conroy should be in a position to commence training 👍

Oxford v Swindon now off. Further talks with Health England and EFL in last hour. Was on at 6 and off at 7. Madness. State of the world right now 😳 Question over whether Richie Wellens could be part of it after staff had positive tests a key factor.

Nixon now saying off after talks between PHE and EFL. Concerns over Wellens being in contact with backroom staff etc

Definitely off.
Players are aware.

Club tweeted its 'suspended'

I think Accrington would have been off regardless, their players need 10 days isolation

official

❌ Our @SkyBetLeagueOne match tomorrow with @OUFCOfficial has been suspended.

A revised date for the rearranged fixture will be confirmed in due course.

#STFC 🔴

With remarkable timing, iFollow just sent a push notification asking me to 'follow the match live'

Based on that our game next saturday against Hull will also be off

Absolute madness.
Not surprised in the slightest with the Government restrictions already in place.
It’s extremely contagious. Our Turkey factory has 6 positive cases when one worker entered the workplace wearing a face mask and sanitised.
If you have tested positive you have to isolate. As simple as that.

Had a quick look on their forum and have to say we're all a very dignified bunch on here compared to their posters only refer to call us as scum and don't have an ounce of intellect between them considering they have the world famous colleges close by

I honestly don't know what the EFL is playing at.  FFS, read the writing on the wall.  Some things are more precious than a fanless football match.

The town & the gown never mix.  There are two Oxfords.

Thank fuck for that......

Exactly and a case of how the other half live!

Never mix Creosote with Cuprinol you mean.

Is it on or off?

I spent a number of coins on tickets for tomorrow and Hull!  :hmmm:

Hmmm annoying >:(

Exactly.  I think.   :D

Where's Bamboo these days I'm missing his essays😁

Not missing Geoff da Ref

I thought he was a decent poster and quite numerous

I thought he was a massive cunt.

😁😁

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

incidentally, why is it 'suspended' rather than 'postponed' .

I mean I know it amounts to the same thing, but never heard suspended in the context of calling a game off before.

Unless there's a further enquiry tomorrow and if it's over turned make us play on Sunday!

Covid v Bovid. Game on.

Actually the town provides the forelock-tugging servants for the gown. Rather like the fagging system.

Never mind, their fans can have a nice game of Aunt Sally on Saturday afternoon instead.

Hopefully fans will be allowed in when the game is eventually played. In fact Poxford have already sold out of tickets for their big game.

Was a programme printed for the postponed game?

The cynic may suggest we deliberately sent the squad out in the hope of contracting the virus to give the injured players time to recover. 

Don't say they that we're already tarred with the name swindle so don't need anymore conspiracies :eek:

I see Karl Robinson was full of grace this morning, saying they could get a 3-0 win etc

Oh well, at least with no game to follow the Yellow-bellies will be able to devote the afternoon to their sisters and their mothers - at least those with six  digits on each hand.

I just read their forum, wow what a bunch of cretins. I’m all for a bit of rivalry but the hatred and vitriol on their side is beyond embarrassing.

I posted the same yesterday and the hatred is craxy  

Rumour is some Swindon lads have been nobbing girls from Wilkes academy which caused the spread within the camp.

Very childish aren't they. They act like Oxford is some kind of tough ghetto  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

They'd better stick to Aunt Sally https://mastersofgames.com/rules/aunt-sally-rules.htm (https://mastersofgames.com/rules/aunt-sally-rules.htm)

"A game is played over a number of legs. For a singles game, it might be the best of 5 legs."

Maybe they should read their own dictionary they might learn so more words

Over the last decade or so Oxford United FC and Oxford Mail have been very good at stoking the fire of the rivalry on social media and their respective websites.

We've never really got involved (rightly or wrongly) and I think that creates a lot of the intensity from their side... that and their elders remember when beating Swindon Town was more of a novelty.

Reading the comments from Town and Oxford fans in the build-up to the derby always amuses me what with the significant rise of such things as urine, genitalia and inbreeding.

Football, eh!?

Fair play, I’ve seen a few of the Wilkes Academy girls, some absolute beauties in there.

Get yourself in there son don't miss out on the fun😁

Exactly. Two places only about half an hour apart are hardly going to have vastly different populous. It's all pretty childish really. I've never felt intimidated at any of the matches either.

On a slightly Swindon/Oxford related note.

Anyone know what Turbo is up to these days & when is he going to appear on the Loathed Strangers?

All very childish as you say and they certainly bring more nutters down here than we take up to their place but that could be because they are given many tickets than they give us

a bit of needle and atmosphere between the fans is good imo.

that said, it stays in the ground

The problem is it spills into the surrounding streets wit them

It’s probably down to them not having any other rivals as well, so they try to force this as much as possible. Whereas we’ve got a number of derby games to enjoy.

You would think Reading & Northamoton would also be big rivals

I’d imagine that they’ve played Reading even less than us over the last 20 odd years and to be fair I wouldn’t know if they’ve got a thing with the cobblers

Not sure about the cobblers either but you would think they would as it's about the same distance as Bristol is to us and as for Reading their just a soulless club end of!

Personally I just think the yellow turds just have more hot air than us. Seen us play them since the 80s, never a problem for me. They never used to bring many at all in days gone by, we've always sold our allocation at theirs even if it is a shit allocation. I wonder why they don't give us more tickets?  :hmmm:

Its 4:30pm and I just panicked that the game might be back on and I'm missing it!

haha.

I'm watching Swansea currently beating the slave traders as a consolation

They are deluded always have been. Embarrassed when others tell them that we are the bigger club.
History, attendances and more.
Never sell out their allocation at ours yet we get barely 1,000 in that soulless triangle.
Just laugh at them, like some dog shit on your shoe.

They certainly did in our last two league encounters at the CG....

Reading and Bristol City currently sat at the top of The Championship isn't pleasant viewing.

At the other end Wycombe unsurprisingly have lost all their games scoring only two goals so far.

City fans will soon be on Holdens back as they haven't won in three games

But hardly near it before.

We’ve sold out our home tickets once in about last 5/6 games

High horses and all that

10,000 fans at the Scum and they declare a public holiday.
Absolute deluded.
Aldershot have a 3 sided ground at least they have shrubs instead of a creosoted fence.
Forever in our shadow.

https://twitter.com/BBCWiltsSport/status/1320073419384291328?s=20

Wellens has his say.

Leaving aside whether ticket allocations have been sold out in years gone by, the current div 3 table does not make happy reading for either side.

Remember a chat with an older Oxford fan back in the 1990s.  He remembered the days pre-Oxford United when buses used to run at weekends from Oxford to the nearest local League game.  One week there would be a football bus to Swindon; and the next to Reading.

So when they got their League status in the late 1950s, the old chap I spoke to said it was like they had to claim their territory.  To this day, there are still plenty of Town fans in places like Abingdon & Wantage...so Oxford fans in the early days felt they had to mark their territory.  Prove they were equals etc.  He said it went a long way to explain why the animosity has always been stronger on their side.

I do remember getting quite in to the rivalry & even internet chatter when I was younger, but the older you get it means less & less.  A rivalry is great.  Adds colour to the experience of being a football fan.  But the point at which you find yourself dwelling too much on football forum outpourings from rival club fans is the point at which you probably need a bit more balance in your life.

Final thought.  Fans of both clubs - Swindon & Oxford - have way more in common than most would care to admit.

we do have a lot in common.

we are clearly better though!

I prefer playing Bristol City than Oxford it's a better atmosphere where as Oxford is just poisonous from start to finish against a club that thinks its bigger than us

Goes without saying, Batch.

I get the rivalry but struggling to see what we have in common

Supporting a mid/low-ranking local club, identifying with your local area & taking a bit of local pride - in preference to following a billionnaire-backed Prem side that you'll probably never get to see live.  Oxford fans are doing just the same 30 miles up the road.  The colours are different, but the sentiments are just the same.

Not a regular poster on here, but have to say I really don’t see how our rivalry is so different from any other football league one. Both sides engage in tragic online banter, we laugh at each other’s fuck ups and erm, are both relatively shite! But I suppose that’s all part of the fun eh. Would definitely say the rivalry is stronger on their side but both sides like to portray it as a bigger rivalry than what it really is. If you ask most other FL teams if they knew we were rivals, I’m sure a lot wouldn’t know! But I assume it’s the same for any lower league rivalry.

I would imagine that applies to most of League 1&2 clubs

Trouble is I'm getting old, Oxford has never really excited me as they are nothing. I grew up nearer Bristol than Oxford, at least they have two historic clubs. The only time I consider Oxford are when we are playing them.

twitter:
james carpenter
@jamesalexc
Banbury United have 600 attending their FA cup match tomorrow yet we aren’t allowed and fans at the Kassam or any league clubs matches . How is this fair ?

WAAAH!

Did he know we got the game called off to ruin their big day? They must be as disappointed as when bananas were banned from Poxford's youth team changing room https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bananagate (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bananagate)

How was the Banbury game, sounded good on the radio and a couple of cracking goals

I'm old enough to know better, so so old enough. But it does mean more to me and anyways will. In fact I can't think of a game i'd class as bigger in domestic football other than one that secures promotion/avoids relegation.

So if ask what 'bigger rivalry than what it really is' means.

I guess it's simply a personal view for all of us. And that depending on where you live and when has an influence on who our biggest rivals are.

That's not having a pop, I get that the range of views go from 'just another game' to 'death to custard, because it's yellow'.

Actually I hate custard a bit more after typing that.

I don't even give to Oxfam.

I also echo the sentiment that having never lived in Swindon or that part of the south midlands, I am not really fussed about Oxford and their supporters.

Born and grew up in Wiltshire so I can attest I detest the filthy yellow cunts with a passion.

Ssme here 4d much prefer games against Bristol clubs

Oxford very very closely followed by Bristol City.

Was brought up watching Fallon's overhead kick, Henderson's double at Ashton Gate and Iffy's boys relegated in Bristol. For all of those years I think Oxford were playing in leagues below us. My only Swindon/Oxford experience at that point was the drab FA Cup game in 2001. Obviously that changed the season we won League 2 but then we still had the 14/15 battle with City. I really dont like them.

And Slavetrader fans don't think that ??,   absolutely hate them, horrible twats, mind Rivers fans have got more aggressive and gobby in the last few years.

Of course slave traders are like that and as they are a much bigger club than Oxford it feels even sweeter when we beat them! As for Rovers I thought they had got a little bit more civil as the last time we played them in the league at home when it was called off at half time or in the re-match there was no trouble

For me the rivalries are cyclical and it just depends which local teams we play more frequently and the circumstances around it.

Growing up and watching the Town from the mid 80s it was the two Bristol clubs and especially doing City out of a play off spot in 86/87 on the last day of the season.

Going to away derby games in the 90s, the Oxford game at the Manor was the one that had edge to it especially with the Joey Beauchamp shenanigans. He got his comeuppance from Robbo and Walters.

2000s after Turbo helped dispatched Oxford to Div 4 and beyond then it was the two Bristol teams again. There was even a little turn of the century dalliance with the numbers we took to Reading. Remember Razor and Jo Kuffor in the 3-1 win there?

We had some great results mid 2000s City whereas Rovers seem to get nasty after the Inn on the Green incident.

The intensity against Oxford seemed to build amongst them after their non league spell and then their results in the Di Canio promotion season.

Even after all that revival with Oxford going toe to toe with City for most of the 14/15 season watching Cotterill squirm was a lot more fun than a couple of Oxford games a season even if we lost out in the end.

For sure, their '7 in a row claims are irritating but the nature of football means that will turnaround some time soon. Would love a scenario where we are 4 or 5 nil up singing 'We want 7'

They are both a bunch of cunts from Bristol. Nothing to separate them.

Good summary and much of how I remember things although I started going in the late 70's so witnessed a few more games.
Anyone that was at Ashton Gate in 86/87 will know it dosen't get more crazy than and let's just say they weren't happy after the game!. I think the way Oxford have restricted us with tickets it's always going to be bigger for them when they are allowed to bring 2500-2800 and we're lucky to half that amount

I have found recent games against Plymouth and Exeter a lot more interesting but that is probably due to living in the south west.  

Again, I may be missing the point, but I don't feel strongly enough to refer to other lower league supporters as c***ts.

Only that City are much bigger😁

It was a cracker, if wet.

The draw for the first round proper is on Monday evening. I want away to Cray Valley Paper Mills.

A plea to Chairperson of the Highworth Chapparall, Big John Power: please put some resources & emphasis on a cup run this season. This might tempt you....

First Round Proper winners   (40)   £22,629
Second Round Proper winners   (20)   £34,000
Third Round Proper winners   (32)   £82,000
Fourth Round Proper winners   (16)   £90,000
Fifth Round Proper winners   (8)   £180,000
Quarter-Final winners   (4)   £360,000
Semi-Final winners   (2)   £900,000
Semi-Final losers   (2)   £450,000
Final runners-up   (1)   £900,000
Final winners   (1)   £1,800,000

Can definitely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve just always felt that our rivalry with them is a little bit manufactured compared to ones with say Bristol City or Reading. Just an opinion, and realise others will disagree with me but I’ve never felt the same for the games against Oxford. To be fair, there is definitely a bigger desire to beat them now due to our horrid run against them, but I’d feel the same way if we had a poor record like that against most clubs to be honest. Or maybe I’m just a miserable bastard and should enjoy the rivalry more!

As you say it's all about opinions and mine are similar to yours although it's been so long since we played Reading I never give them a thought and even when we used to play them they never really created an atmosphere at the County Ground. In normal circumstances I would prefer playing Bristol City away in the 3rd or 4th round of the FA Cup than say Oxford as it's a much bigger game for me and a decent place to go to if you keep yourself to yourself

I’d also much rather that, although I haven’t been to Ashton Gate since they’ve redeveloped it so wonder if any of the ‘character’ the ground had, has been substituted for aesthetics. Either way, usually very enjoyable trips.

I started going to Town games in the early mid 70's and back then games against City and Rovers and even Reading had more of a local derby bite about them. There was always trouble at games between all the 4 local sides but it always seemed less at the Oxford matches than the others.

I was brought up by my dads dislike of City and Rovers because Oxford had only been in the league for just over 10 years when I started going to games so it was almost a manufactured new derby whereas we had been playing Reading, Rovers and City for over 60 years at that point, it was far more of a historical rivalry with them.

Then during the 80's they had a lucky run and got to the top division meaning we didn't play them for several year lessening any intensity, but we were still playing the other 3 regularly, at least 1 every season often all 3.

But in the 90s we started to play Oxford more often again and they hardly ever seemed to beat us, we only had 4 defeats in the 21 games from 82 to 99 and all of those coming at the Manor. Its obviously changed a lot since then though with almost the opposite having happened in the last 8 games.

I think I enjoy the rivalry with Rovers and City more because I personally know a lot more  of their supporters, having only 1 mate who is an Oxford fan but 20+ of the other 2 clubs, with pretty much zero for Reading barring my mates wife.

I have always thought the intense rivalry comes far more from their end, much like Gillingham in the 70s and 80s. Yes I disklike them, even bordering on hatrid at times, but thats more to do with their huge propertion of idiotic fans who only come to cause trouble and have no interest in the result. The same applies equally to City, Rovers and Reading fans, although I would relegate Reading to lower in the hate list than Bournemouth for me now.

Same here and haven't been there since the redevelopment but have to say it looks impressive and just a little envious!

Good post Pete and pretty much how I see things having started going in 1973 so got to witness many Derby matches.
I never really saw Reading cause trouble down here but it always kicked off at Elm Park and a little at the Madeski but playing either of the Bristol clubs and Oxford was guaranteed to be mayhem in and around the stadium. Gillingham wasnt on such a big scale mainly due to the distance between the clubs but for a few years it was quite hostile. Another couple of teams who always caused lots of trouble were Pompey & Cardiff but in those days football violence was a disease so it happened at most grounds

Absolutely.

Swansea, Pompey and Cardiff were always awful games for trouble.

And as you rightly say Reading never travelled to games in any number (and still don't) but at Elm Park specifically there was always awful trouble.

My (14 year old) mate was stabbed in the back during the game in 1980 he was one of about 5 Town fans stabbed that day in awful trouble, but that never really came to the CG, we always took a few thousand there but they never brought more than 400 or 500 to us.

Scary times in those days and at times you feared for your life if you were an away fan outside the grounds and no doubts many posters on here would have stories to tell

Shame if they get a league club next round at home it will be home fans only as i dont think crowds will be allowed in as league teams are defined as elite level? I think its any team above National League North/South. Same happened with Bassett when they played Oxford City

Still a chance of a tv game if they get a league team mind

Not so good inside either back in the day.

https://youtu.be/BZUg4MJzIRE

In the qualifying rounds (not sure if this will extend to the "proper" rounds):

Limited capacity attendance allowed:
Non-elite v. non-elite (home & away fans)
Non-elite v elite (but elite fans not allowed!!!)

No fans for:
Elite v. elite
Elite v. non-elite.

Didn't the National League screw themselves by allowing them to be reclassified as elite so they could hold play-offs at the end of last season, but that stopped them having fans this season (although the latter was an incredibly late decision).

Fucking bonkers. Another COVID COP-OUT!!! Or CUP-OUT in this case.

No mention of Cheltenham on here, despite our abysmal run of results at their place.

Football was very scary then and any younger fans wouldn't know how bad it used to be

“Abysmal run” someone must’ve missed the two heroic draws we managed at Whaddon Road last season.

Might as well include FGR then if you include Cheltenham

OK, let's.

What's the difference between Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading & Swansea versus Nailsworth & Cheltenham?

If you weren't around in the late 70's & 80's you will never know

I’m getting to the point where this season is just pointless and largely irrelevant.  I’ve just had a long argument on Twitter with someone who thinks all pro footballers are paid enough that they should lock themselves away until spring so that games aren’t put at risk. If we are really asking players to put their lives on hold more than the rest of us what is the point in continuing with the season...

I couldn't agree more and never wanted the season to start without crowds or if it was unsafe.

Quite. I have both Sky Sports and BT Sport so can watch all the "Top Class" games but not really that interested in who does what in the Premiership/Championship and even having access to iFollow for the Towns games lacks the real involvement of being at the game.

As the rules regarding this pandemic and what people can and cannot do appear to be made up on the cuff dependant upon where you are in the U.K. it looks less and less likely that we shall be allowed into the CG until well into 2021 if at all, not a good thought.

it's still relevant, just not that enjoyable for me

It's definitely not enjoyable and although relevant it doesn't seem right that Liverpool is in lockdown yet football carries on at Anfield & Goodison

I’m just getting fed up of the dehumanising of players, it’s mind boggling that some people expect players to lock themselves away for 6 or 7 months like football is more important than anything else. There still seems to be a lot of people that think lower league players are paid a lot more than they really are and thus should be a picture of responsibility. Asking players not to go and eat at restaurant, or sit in a coffee shop is completely unreasonable in my opinion and if that is what people genuinely believe then what’s the point...

^^^^ yeah, I just roll my eyes at that stupidity.

Born in Surrey, grew up in the Newbury (area), I have always been east of Swindon.

I also hate the Pisstains with a passion (on matchdays or anywhere in the vicinity of the Kebabstad)

Reading, or "the Biscuitmen", notwithstanding some testy afternoons at Elm Park and the Madstad, has always been a friendly derby at its most intense and more recently a tad inconsequential due to the lack of passion of its fans and its tidy but soulless stadium.  Franchise without the treachery.

Though not on a level with Oxford, I do buy into the enmity with City and can understand its pre-eminence west of Swindon.

But there is only one lower league rivalry ever equated with Rangers v Celtic and it ain't City, let alone Rovers.  'Tis true though that, in the red corner, that comparison is probably starting to become historical.  As a number of posts on here seem to indicate.

Good read 😁

Good answer too.

I'm "irritated" by our results v the latter pair and have been known to reach "annoyed" on a few occasions.  Absolute trivia on the Rivalry Richter Scale.  John McGinlay on his own would get my juices going more than that pair.   ;)

Having lived in the Yellow Territory all my life there is and will only be one game that is a little more important than all of the others.
Decent post that.
Reading was always a day out but never with the passion and intensity that came from a Red and Yellow Derby. I have many derby stories, some good, some funny and some not so good as well as confession that I know a fair few Piss Stains.

I Remember those games against Bolton 😁

EFL confirm tomorrows game is off

I wonder if the Hull game will be off🤔

I now live in a small Surrey village and my neighbour turned out to be a Pox fan.  I was furious that this never came up on the Local Search carried out.  He's bigger than me and into karate, so we get on fairly well   ;)

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/18823731.derby-not-rearranged-says-oxford-united-boss/

What a cock.

what a cunt

If someone made a film about him, James Cordon would play him.

Robinson knows what he's doing. It's easy fuel to keep fans onside.

In some ways this is a to push the EFL to enforce rules that'll stop what happened last week.

If Oxford suffer a spate of positive cases then he's essentially forcing them down the road of having to play. I'm not sure that trying to force game to go ahead OR insist on a walk-over for a third division football match (which can be rearranged) during a global pandemic is a hill I'd be willing to die on but I'm not surprised Karl is one to embrace that challenge.

He is not in full possession of the facts, but has his rant printed in the local press.  Classy.

But the worst bit is he's plain wrong.  If members of your bubble or whatever it's called test positive, you self-isolate.  End of story.  That's not EFL guidance, it's from the government/NHS.  If I was him, I'd be asking the Oxford Mail to take the story back down.  I'm almost embarrassed for him.

Scared.

We always live in hope but, if we're all honest, Saturday was probably one of the safest bets for an Oxford win throughout our poor run against them.

Robinson will drive that narrative. As will the club and their local paper. They will ignore the points made by Ardiles in favour of what they think is the moral high ground. A budget Tranmere Rovers.

It's like politics. Wellens came out and gave a clear breakdown of what happened and Robinson is ignoring every single bit of it with the Barrow example being a case in point - Town had no coaches available.

Do you *really* want to claim a victory over an opposition playing with a handicap of no coaching staff? I wouldnt.

Either way, the stuff Town in the rearranged and its justice for Town being scummy COVID cop outs or they lose and Swindon are cowards for 'running away scared'.

What a bunch of nonsense caused by the EFL's inability to be definitive in their rulings.

Thanks for free, motivational team-talk for when the game is played.

Motivational for STFC that is.

Bring on three points & roundabouts.

Thing is, you have got cuntface moaning the game was off.

You've got sloth moaning that the game was on without proper testing https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/18822024.steve-evans-fumes-lack-covid-tests---league-one-round-up/

The EFL need to get a grip on this. I'm not subscribing to the season being cancelled, but the shambolic organisation and lack of clear protocol could contribute to it.

Problem is, getting a grip costs somebody money (e.g. testing)...

Pharmacist friend noted on Sunday night (during our virtual night in the pub) that he expects two different vaccines to have been released in the UK by Christmas/New year, one being the Oxford one I don't recall the other as alcohol had been taken!

That would still likely make next to no difference to football. though. It'd still be months before we could return to any kind of normality.

Indeed, albeit at least if the players and immediate staff were vaxxed it would hopefully prevent the present sort of shitty shambles.

From what he was saying the big concern is that its going to take a long time to vax 65m people and its making sure that those who are vaxxed don't immediately go back to normal and start infecting those who aren't, just because you can't get ill with it doesn't mean you won't be spreading it.

They're also saying that the vaccine will be two part with a month between doses and will be for NHS staff/key workers and the vulnerable etc so it could take until the spring or summer until it's available for all.

Robinson is just trying to keep the Pox fans on his side, not for 1 minute does he genuinely think that should or even could happen.

Its the rallying call of General Custer before the inevitable defeat at the hands of your fiercest opponents.

The aim isn't to vaccinate everyone. You don't need to for it to be effective and for us to get back to normal.

Agreed as long as the vaccine works on the ones who have it. I guess the main concern is how it has been tested and what any side effects are

Just bending over for his fans who will no doubt be queuing up to roger him after this sort of comment.

Remember when he was once moaning about us not playing our strongest team in a game, despite him having previously done the same thing?

So who is responsible for calling a game off? The club. The EFL. PHE?

Can't be us, Shirley? We can't call a game off ourselves no matter how much we might want to.

From the talk of the town podcast, I understood it to be like;

- we had positive tests and asked the EFL if we could call off the fixture due to them without incurring a points deduction
- the EFL said no and the game had to go ahead as planned
- PHE stepped in and forced the EFL to call the game off
- EFL called the game off without the threat of us facing a automatic points deduction

Think that's reflected in the Adver piece as well.

Vaccine will be to prevent rather than cure. Only a small % of the population would need one.

As for Robinson, he's purely doing it to appease the fans. See his comments after the Crewe game was called off, it's completely contradictory. Fans are always gonna run with whatever narrative they want and the "running scared" thing works for Pox fans so let them have it. I'm sure, if we do win (or draw) the rearranged match it won't 'count' towards the run of victories because of the circumstances.

Good post

I don't think that's true is it? Pretty sure to reach the fabled "herd immunity" that prevents the virus from having sufficient hosts to spread, it needs most people to have had the vaccine. There doesn't seem to be an exact "tipping point" figure (presumably because this is a new virus so we don't yet know how it behaves long term, how effective a vaccine is, how often people need booster jabs etc) but the stuff I've read seems to be consistently between 60-80% of the population would need to be vaccinated. For some diseases it's higher, over 90%

https://theconversation.com/what-is-herd-immunity-and-how-many-people-need-to-be-vaccinated-to-protect-a-community-116355

I know it won't happen, but...

The bellend says he won't accept a re-arranged date. Would it not be beautiful if he did refuse and we were given the points!

That would be the dogs bo*locks if that happened!

I always thought the point of any vaccine was to make sure you don't get it, rather than to treat it? I'm far from a medical expert so could be wrong!

You're not wrong.

Although vaccines can be used as a treatment in some cases, such as with rabies, but that's beside the point.

Yes it is. That's precisely why everyone (or nearly everyone) needs to have it to properly control the virus and allow us to get back to some kind of normal. If only a small %age of the population is vaccinated, then everyone else has to carry on with the measures we have now

Well no. If you vaccinate a (yet to be known) % of the population, the r rate will go below one and the virus will disappear over time.

Also, even if you only vaccinate those most at risk of dying from it, you can lift restrictions knowing the risk to the rest of the population is negligible.

How many people will need it is debatable , but not everyone.  The r rate can't go below zero (I know you meant 1,).

There's a slightly out of date opinion here

https://www.ft.com/content/d2e00128-7889-4d5d-84a3-43e51355a751 (https://www.ft.com/content/d2e00128-7889-4d5d-84a3-43e51355a751)

I guess they need to know more about how how long a vaccine will last and how effective it is at preventing the disease - then calculate who gets it in order to suppress it sufficiently.

it's probably going to keep rearing like flu, isn't it?

Erm, yes, that's what I said. The yet to be known % of the population seems to be reckoned by most scientists as being likely to be between 60-80%. It's over 90% for measles and whooping cough, by comparison. The stats are in the link I posted.

https://theconversation.com/what-is-herd-immunity-and-how-many-people-need-to-be-vaccinated-to-protect-a-community-116355

I must have misinterpreted this.

Not sure what you're struggling with here. 60-80% vaccinated is generally reckoned to be likely to be the level required to achieve herd immunity. It may (cf measles) be as high as 90%. Once you take out people who can't be vaccinated or refuse to be etc, that means pretty much most of everyone else will need to be. This is how mass vaccination works.

Not struggling with anything. I think we agree, but I misunderstood you when you said everyone needs to be vaccinated before we can get back to anything approaching normal.

And as it stands many in the NHS are more concerned about the logistics of doing such a large vax programme ASAP than actually getting the vax in the first place, they are already struggling with the promises made re flu jabs this year!  

I think we do and TBF I don't think I was very clear, my apologies There's two objectives - short-term to protect the most vulnerable (e.g. the elderly) and at risk (key workers, esp in the health and care sectors), which doesn't require the majority to be vaccinated and is likely to be all we can do with the first lot of vaccines that are available (which I think was what Tails was talking about); and medium-long term suppressing the virus which is likely to require mass vaccination.

Another case confirmed at STFC

Where did you hear that

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/18826165.another-coronavirus-case-swindon-town-football-club/

Jewell?

 More likely to be the kit man or physio than Jewell surely?

I guess it's the user of "management staff" that makes the kit man unlikely.

I thought the physio already had the Rhona...

wait. it's power, clearly!

edit: kit man listed under management. I stand corrected

Bryan Robson when he was in the seat at Middlesbrough...refused to play a game and they got docked points.

No man is bigger than the club but some believe they are bigger than the entire League!

Didnt end well...


By Christmas, Middlesbrough were deep in relegation trouble, despite Ravanelli proving himself as one of the league's top goalscorers. Added to this, Middlesbrough were faced with the wrath of the Football Association for postponing a fixture against Blackburn Rovers at short notice. The club's officials insisted that manager Bryan Robson had been unable to field a team due to a severe injury and illness crisis among his players, but this did not prevent the Football Association from docking the club 3 points.

Middlesbrough managed to put together a good run of results and look like decent bets for survival, but the Football Association's refusal to restore Middlesbrough's 3 points counted against them and a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on the final day of the season, when they needed a win, resulted in relegation that would have been avoided (at the expense of Coventry City) if the points had not been deducted.



Probably best to have played it and lost 9 zip, but Bryan knew best.....

2-0 down at Charlton at half time.

Taxi for Robinson!

Can't imagine the Kit Man having it is good news.

Maybe we should have sent a team of fans there for the game. They look in bad shape this season.

Saturday will be very tough against Hull. Hopefully some tired legs in their squad.

He'll be looking for free three points.

Did you see the freekick, keeper had a mare there

Is the game definitely on?

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere either on or off

The club are preparing for the game to be on at the moment.

The plan is to vax everyone over 18, albeit this will be phased with health workers and those deemed at risk first obviously.

Is the vaccination vegan-friendly

This going to be a contentious comment, however, this maybe one of those times where the greater good comes before personal liberty/entitlement. When the vax is ready and that is likely to be sooner rather than later I’d not be adverse to legislation saying no vax, no NHS treatment’. Though that of course opens up a can of worms but desperate times sometimes mean desperate measures.

I do realise this is the wrong thread as such but I was just talking the comment onto VP. I’ll not add anything further.

Believe it or not, I'm not far behind you.

I don't think it's right we don't treat them, but I do think those so irresponsible to not get a vaccine should not be allowed to put further strain on the NHS. Especially at the cost of other people who have been responsible. I don't know what the answer is, mind.

For some reason, something similar popped into my head recently about health insurance and anti-vaxxers. I can see health insurance companies saying 'nope' if somebody refused to get a vaccine and the caught the vid. They'll take any opportunity they can to not pay out - rightly or wrongly.

Totally against the principles of the NHS. EVERYONE is entitled to treatment - even morons.

It also leads to a bit of a slippery slope then doesn't it? If the NHS is not to treat people that don't choose to get vaccinated then why should they treat people that get sick due to addiction to drugs, cigarettes and alchohol for example?

In reality they have to treat everyone equally and fairly whatever the lifestyle. That said I remember when I had snapped my achilles playing football and I was sat in A&E for 5 hours or so waiting while all the local druggies seemed to be able to waltz in and get seen straight away (presumably to avoid disturbance etc) which was a little bit irritating.

yup, at least for now anyway.

that said, I think the MMR autism anti vaxers parents should be done for child neglect if their child ends up in hospital with one of the diseases...

though compulsory vaccinations again is contentious.

I think people would have every right to be sceptical about initial vaccines and want to see if it has any long term issues or side effects before taking it, it's not like there isn't a precedent for a rushed out vaccine being a killer in itself....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengvaxia_controversy

I've got no problem taking if long term studies reveal there aren't any issues but I wouldn't want to take something that has been rushed out in less than a quarter of the normal development time.

You should be alright then 😉

I get staff discount

I think he’ll be waiting a while. What a twat.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/18850047.oxford-united-chief-wants-delay-derby-fans-back/

I see they are still stating that the game was called off by Swindon. It wasn't.

Fill your boots or knock yourself out choice is yours.

Rearranged to Saturday 28th November.

That’ll piss on their chairmans chips then, he wanted arranged when crowds were back

At least if the club open the car park they can allow the open too buses in so can have supporeters behind the goal😁

First of three away games on the trot followed by Crewe & Gillingham

Yeah very strange upcoming schedule.

Shrewsbury (a)
Accrington (h)
Bristol Rovers (h)
Lincoln (h)
Oxford (a)
Crewe (a)
Gillingham (a)

Be nice to get some positive form leading up to those away games.

Let's hope so and no reason why not once we get a few players back

Not sure home/away really makes much difference any more without crowds. Maybe for Gillingham there's a comparatively longer journey so that might have some impact on the players but suspect it's marginal

At least with Gillingham away it's another ground where we don't have to put up with a hostile atmosphere😁

Excellent. The Marsh Harrier might open a week early if it's the designated away pub.

Who will be looking for the game to be called off at short notice now and replayed under the new rules!!!

Just won a free Ifollow pass from the EFL rewards app. So that's Saturday sorted for gratis!

Same here

oh look. I'm unlucky again. I'm shocked